Semi-complete list of startup accelerator programs (any more to add?) | Hacker News Reader

Semi-complete list of startup accelerator programs (any more to add?)

blog.shedd.us

12 pointsshedd16 comments

I'd like to suggest some of Michigan's programs for your review: University of Michigan's "Techarb" Business Accelerator (http://cfe.engin.umich.edu/businessaccelerator), Ann Arbor SPARK Business Accelerator (http://www.annarborusa.org/start-ups/spark-business-accelera...) and Wayne State's SmartStart Business Development Program (http://techtownwsu.org/business/smartstart.php)

I've interacted with each of these program on some level and can provide more information later if desired.

Thanks for the information - I'll add this to the list!

For the Ann Arbor SPARK program, does this operate as an early stage accelerator program or as more of a conventional incubator?

Each of the programs listed are geared toward very early-stage companies and provide many different types of support functions. Each program (I believe) offers grants or loans, office space, and mentorship. At its current state, the Techarb is more of a conventional incubator with outside entities providing financial and mentorship functions, however it is intended to be grown into a full accelerator in the near future by U-M (it was created only a few months ago and just getting off the ground). I'm less familiar with the SmartStart's program (I only visited once), however I believe it offers a full range of early-stage startup assistance.

I would quite enjoy seeing additional data.. founding of new 'accelerators' over time, number of companies funded, companies/year, etc. Primarily when they were founded. Last I checked, I found only 3.

Would also be fun to see an evolution tree starting from YC. It's too soon for weak variations to have died off yet, but I reckon we could check back in a decade..

And the most important statistic, success rate.

That's toughie. Is a success counted when the first company does well, or if the entrepreneur goes on to make a ton of amazing companies, giving some stock to the accelerator and/or having them involved in the process?

You could count it by the failure rate instead.

Compiling further detailed information on the programs would certainly be interesting and I'm sure that prospective applicants would find it helpful. Given the different models used by the programs, it would be an interesting endeavor to try to consolidate and compare the details.

We need a TheFunded for incubators and accelerators. A site that allows founders to rate these programs and their interactions with them similar to what http://www.thefunded.com/ does for venture capitalists.

TheFunded lists most of them already.

My apologies, I searched for YCombinator not "Y Combinator" and didn't find it. I see it now. With so many incubators it's a natural and useful extension for TheFunded.

Does anyone have any experience with any of these firms?

With YC moved to CA it looks like the three in Boston are Start@Spark, Summer@Highland Capital, and TechStars. Anyone familiar with them?

Not sure about Start@Spark or Highland's program, but I think you'll find a lot of folks familiar with TechStars on HN. Having just announced the third program in Seattle, they're also rapidly increasing the number of companies that they assist annually.

Thanks for this list. I had no idea about the Providence RI one. Although new, it's still interesting.

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